title: Biological Activities and Chemical Characterization of Cordia verbenacea DC. as Tool to Validate the Ethnobiological Usage.
abstract: Knowledge of medicinal plants is often the only therapeutic resource of many communities and ethnic groups. "Erva-baleeira", Cordia verbenacea DC., is one of the species of plants currently exploited for the purpose of producing a phytotherapeutic product extracted from its leaves. In Brazil, its major distribution is in the region of the Atlantic Forest and similar vegetation. The crude extract is utilized in popular cultures in the form of hydroalcoholic, decoctions and infusions, mainly as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents. The aim of the present study was to establish a chemical and comparative profile of the experimental antibacterial activity and resistance modifying activity with ethnopharmacological reports. Phytochemical prospecting and HPLC analysis of the extract and fractions were in agreement with the literature with regard to the presence of secondary metabolites (tannins and flavonoids). The extract and fraction tested did not show clinically relevant antibacterial activity, but a synergistic effect was observed when combined with antibiotic, potentiating the antibacterial effect of aminoglycosides. We conclude that tests of antibacterial activity and modulating the resistance presented in this work results confirm the ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological information, serving as a parameter in the search for new alternatives for the treatment of diseases.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual do Ceará-UECE-60740-000, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil ; Rede Nordeste de Biotecnologia-RENORBIO-60740-000, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil ; Faculdade Leão Sampaio-CE-FALS-63180-000, Juazeiro do Norte, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Edinardo Fagner Ferreira
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Matias
authors.forename: Erivânia Ferreira
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Beatriz Sousa
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Celestina Elba
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Sobral de Souza
authors.forename: João Victor
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: de Alencar Ferreira
authors.forename: Anne Karyzia Lima
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Santos de Lavor
authors.forename: Fernando Gomes
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Figueredo
authors.forename: Luciene
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferreira de Lima
authors.forename: Francisco Antônio
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Vieira Dos Santos
authors.forename: Flórido Sampaio
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Neves Peixoto
authors.forename: Aracélio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Viana Colares
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Augusti Boligon
authors.forename: Rogério de Aquino
authors.initials: Rde A
authors.lastname: Saraiva
authors.forename: Margareth Linde
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Athayde
authors.forename: João Batista Teixeira
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: da Rocha
authors.forename: Irwin Rose
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Alencar Menezes
authors.forename: Henrique
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Douglas Melo Coutinho
authors.forename: José Galberto Martins
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: da Costa